You want to exercise, but you’ve only got a small amount of space to do it in. Whether you live in an apartment or a small home, or you own or manage a compact gym or fitness studio, space limitations will force you to make the most of what you’ve got.
By choosing cardio equipment for small spaces, you can do exactly that.
In this guide we’ll run through a range of cleverly designed fitness solutions, from the best cardio machine for small spaces to home cardio equipment for small spaces, to help you enjoy a quality workout where it otherwise may not fit.
The best cardio equipment for small spaces
What is the best cardio equipment for small spaces? That will depend on exactly how small the space is, and the types of exercise that you hope to do in it.
Compact cardio equipment can take the form of simple hand-held accessories, or cardio machines designed to minimise their footprint or compact down for easy storage.
Depending on your space, fitness goals and workout preferences, the best cardio equipment for small spaces might include:
Exercise/training balls
If you have room to bounce a ball, you have room for a workout. Investing in a set of exercise and training balls is a great way to get the most out of your workout space, although it’s wise to choose slam balls and dead balls over wall balls, as you don’t want them bouncing around your workout space and knocking things over.
Aerobic steps
Step up, step down. It’s a simple exercise, but one that can be surprisingly effective at increasing your cardio fitness and the power of your lower body. Aerobic steps take up a tiny amount of floorspace, but they can pack a real punch.
Resistance bands
The ultimate example of space-saving exercise equipment, resistance bands can place a workout in your pocket. While offering more strength training than cardio, they can be used to engage pretty much any muscle, and are more than capable of helping you get a sweat up.
Foldable/storable rowing machines
Rowing machines probably aren’t the first piece of exercise equipment that comes to mind when you’re fitting out a compact space. But while they may measure a metre or more long while you’re using them, many models can take up far less space when not in use.
Rowers like the Concept2 RowErg fold down to half the size, which allows them to be tucked away in a corner. Machines like the WaterRower Classic, meanwhile, are designed to be stored in an upright position, so they can be placed out of the way in a cupboard, wardrobe or closet.
Foldable treadmills
Like rowing machines, treadmills aren’t known for their compactness. Foldable treadmills seek to solve this problem by making these machines far easier to store. The console and handles swing down to the belt, which condenses the whole machine into a shape not much larger than a folded ironing board – ideal for slipping into a cupboard or closet.
Upright exercise bikes
Upright exercise bikes are primarily designed for comfort, but their unique design also means they take up less floor space than other exercise bike options, such as spin bikes, assault bikes and recumbent bikes.
This is particularly the case for space-saving models like the Matrix U30 Upright Bike, which also features a large augmented reality screen that can pull you out of your compact exercise space and send you pedalling through any number of exciting or scenic destinations.
Stair climbers
A step machine or stair climber like the Matrix C50 ClimbMill is one of the more compact cardio machines you can invest in. A motorised version of an aerobic step, these somewhat unassuming machines can also pack quite the punch, offering a high quality workout that is compact in terms of both size and duration.
Ski machines
In many ways a SkiErg can be thought of as an upright rowing machine, but one that imitates the movements of snow skiing with poles. You’ll only need around a square metre of space to use a SkiErg, and as a machine that offers a truly full-body workout, a lot of fitness can be squeezed into that space.
Foldable elliptical
Ellipticals and cross-trainers are built to simulate the movements of running or jogging, but in a low impact way that also engages the upper body. You can choose a high-end, feature packed machine like the Matrix E30 Suspension Elliptical, but if you’re pressed for room, a foldable option like the Horizon Andes 3 Elliptical will be ideal.
This machine measures 173cm long and 63cm wide when in use, but can fold down to just 102cm long after your workout, to be placed in a corner or cupboard.
Yoga mats
While yoga is more anaerobic exercise than aerobic, cardio-focused exercise, it’s still a space-saving and ultra-effective workout that can improve your fitness levels. Yoga mats take up minimal room, and the workout itself does away with equipment and machinery, you instead become fitter and stronger by using your own body weight.
GymQuip: compact cardio equipment specialists
Home to Australia’s largest fitness showroom, at GymQuip we have spent 30 years supplying happy customers with the very best cardio equipment for small spaces, from home gym basics like resistance bands and yoga mats, to the world’s most innovative and cleverly designed gym machines, like the Matrix Fitness range.
We can also help you to fit out your home gym or commercial gym to maximise your use of space. We help you design, fit-out and maintain your gym, and offer all the support you could ever need (additional charges may apply).
Our showroom is large, but our online store is even larger. We deliver all our products Australia-wide, we ship within 24 hours, and we offer a price match guarantee: if you find one of our products cheaper elsewhere, we’ll beat that price.